What is a home?

[beijingaccent9]

title: what is a home?
word count: 1.8k
pairing: xiuhan
genre: slight angst; romance
rating: g
summary: minseon is minseok's curious son
a/n: unbeta-ed ; sorry for grammatical errors; reposted from lj account

Minseon was 7 when he asked his dad "what is a home?".

A playground can be a home, as long as you're playing with someone you like.

Minseok met Lu Han in a playground near his home. Lu Han batted his eyelashes as he stared at Minseok who looked like a cat covered with heavy winter coat. 

Minseok has never seen him before, he thought, that new guy with long and pretty eyelashes might be new in the neighborhood. He might have no friends at all and he might be lonely. Minseok took the opportunity to say hi. 

Lu Han beamed as Minseok offered his hand for a handshake. Lu Han showed him the prettiest smile in the neighborhood, or maybe in the whole wide world. 



Minseok and Lu Han became attached at the hips. And when Lu Han was bullied for his feminine features, Minseok stood up and took all the punches. Minseok bruised and he never regretted anything he has done, at all.

"Why d'ya do that?" Lu Han asked worriedly as he scanned Minseok's exposed skin.

Minseok scrunched his nose, "They were teasing you. D'you think I'll just stand there and do nothing?" Minseok seemed rather disappointed that Lu Han didn't look like he appreciated his efforts to be his hero.

"But I'm okay! I'm not letting their words get through my head so you stay chill." Lu Han answered as he tried to reach the first aid kit on top of their cabinet.

"But I'm not okay! You're my friend and my mom said I should protect my friend." Minseok whined, obviously hating how Lu Han easily brushed off the fact that he was being bullied and bullying was something Minseok couldn't tolerate.

Lu Han heard it loud and clear. friend friend friend. When his family decided to live in South Korea, he never really expected someone to befriend him. He was in a country he could never call a home.

But now, Lu Han thought, he was home.



Minseon was 10 when he asked his dad if there's a different kind of home.

A school can be a home as long as you get to hang out with someone you like.

During grade school to high school, Minseok was in the same class as Lu Han. Not really pure coincidence, Minseok has somehow a power to control that since his Mom annually handles the enrollment and sectioning procedures. Who cares, anyway? Minseok got to be with Lu Han and that was enough to be happy.

It was necessary for Minseok to watch Lu Han. Who knows what might happen if he wasn't around? As it was a necessity for Minseok, it was the same the other way around. Being with Minseok, Lu Han had the chance to keep down Minseok's fists whenever he could. Minseok never really knew how to control his anger.

Minseok loved school despite how many times he complained about having too many projects and homeworks. He loved school despite how many times he was reprimanded for landing a fist on his classmates' jaws. He loved school despite being teased about his height.

Lu Han was enough to keep Minseok in school. Lu Han's homemade lunches were enough to refrain Minseok from hating school. Lu Han's promises of a bright future after graduating high school were strings which Minseok hold on to when he wanted to hate school. 

Minseok loved school because of Lu Han and he loved it even more because it was in school when Lu Han admitted he has loved him for a long time already.

With Minseok, Lu Han felt a sense of belongingness, he was home.



Minseon was 13 when he asked his dad to tell him more about a home.

A dorm can be a home as long as you're with the one who you truly love and the one that truly loves you back.

The transition from high school to college was something Minseok couldn't adapt to quickly. It was not easy to instill in his mind that he wasn't a kid anymore, he was a young adult and years from now, he would have to support Lu Han and their kids.

"I don't get it. This paper is full of numbers and letters!" Minseok screamed as he threw another paper in the trashbin.

"C'mere, Minseok. Let me help you." Lu Han's voice has always been so endearing that every time Minseok wanted to ditch his assignments, he'd always have a reason not to. 

Minseok aspired to be an architect. He wanted his future home with Lu Han to be designed by him. He wanted a space that he has worked his ass off for. He wanted it to be something he would love staying at with Lu Han and their future kids.

Lu Han decided he wanted to be an accountant. Saying Minseok spends too much and he has to control his spending habit. Lu Han teased Minseok that he needs someone to manage the money he makes if he really wants to buy a land in Jeju and build the home he designed for them.

Minseok wanted to adopt a kid when they get married and when they have enough money to feed, spoil and take care of a kid. They wanted a boy and they thought of naming him, Minseon. 

"What will I do without you, Lu Han?" Minseok said ever so sweetly as he wrapped his arms around Lu Han's body.

Lu Han smirked. "You'd be in the streets asking for alms." Lu Han laughed and that was enough motivation for Minseok to study harder.



It was Lu Han and Minseok's last year in college when Lu Han's family decided to go back to China. Lu Han missed them so much but Minseok was enough to get Lu Han back on track. 

"I love you, Lu Han."

"I love you, too."

Lu Han smiled because he knew, a place where he could be with Minseok was qualified to be called a home.



Minseon was 16 when he asked his dad the same question.

A small apartment can be a home as long as you can sleep beside the one you love.

Minseok had become busy. It seemed like days were longer than nights. The only time he could be with Lu Han was during nights, but they were either too tired, too sleepy or too frustrated about their jobs. There was little no time to talk, to converse.

Lu Han had seen the changes. When they were kids, they had the time in their hands. They could make time. They could spend time however they want to. When they were in their teens, responsibilities started to arise but not too much. Now that they were working, time became limited. The clock ticked too fast, too quick.

"We'll make this work. Together." Minseok said as he held Lu Han's hands firmly. 

Lu Han trusted Minseok. "Together, like we promised."



Minseok had forgotten when was the last time he heard Lu Han say I love you or when was the last time he said it back. They wanted everything to work out between them, but it seemed like they were drifting apart. 

There were times when Minseok thought Lu Han had forgotten him. There were times when Lu Han rejected Minseok's touches and kisses. There were times when Lu Han thought he's starting to forget what it was like to love Minseok. There were times when Lu Han feared feeling nothing at all for Minseok. 

Minseok knew, Lu Han was trying loosen the grip.



Minseon was 18 when he asked his dad a question and Minseok couldn't reply back.

Lu Han, after two years of a push and pull relationship with Minseok, finally took the initiative to end it all. Minseok could only nod and close his fist. He didn't want to hold him back if he really wanted to leave.

"I'm going back to my real home." Lu Han was firm with his decision of giving up on Minseok.

"Is this how we say good bye?" Minseok could feel tears forming in the brim of his eyes.

"Good bye, Minseok."

"No, not good bye." Minseok tried his best to smile. "See you." Because, really, Minseok didn't want it to end.

"See you, Minseok." And Lu Han pulled his luggage and walked away from the man he used to love.



Minseok used the time without Lu Han to work, to save money, to fix papers needed to buy a land in Jeju and to finally start the home he has been dreaming of.

It took about a year before the home was finished. It was beautiful, breath-taking. Minseok could smell the scent of fresh water.

He adopted a kid, not long after. He named him Minseon just as they wanted. Minseon was a loving kid, with skin as pale as Lu Han's and a voice as endearing as Lu Han's. 

He figured, if he could tell Lu Han that he was already stable and that he had more time to spend with him, Lu Han would probably come back. Lu Han would probably marry him. 

"Is this Lu Han's phone?" Minseok's hand trembled as he spoke.

"Yeah, it is."

"Is this Lu Han I'm speaking with?" He asked, giving it the best he could.

"No. This is Sehun and my husband's currently taking a bath. If you have something important to tell him, I'll pass it onto him."

"Ah.. no. It's nothing important." Minseok's world shattered into pieces, tiny pieces that are impossible to get back together.

"May I know who is this I'm speaking with?" 

Minseok gulped. "Minseok, Kim Minseok. A friend."



Minseon was turning 19 when he asked his dad about Lu Han, again.

Minseok aged a few numbers although it didn't show on his face. He aged beautifully because he has a loving son by his side.

"Why d'ya ask, Minseon?" 

"Because someone knocked on our door and claimed he's Lu Han." That was the cue for Lu Han to enter.

Minseok stood up from his seat. The feeling was similar to when they said their first I Love Yous. Minseok was sure Lu Han had aged beautifully as well. He hadn't change one bit.

Minseok talked to Lu Han and Minseon was by his side. Minseon was happy to see his dad's smile. Lu Han had gotten his divorce a year after he got married with Sehun but it took him at least 17 years to build up the courage to face Minseok again.

"Is this Minseon? Your son?"

Minseok smiled. "Our son."

Minseon turned to Lu Han. The Lu Han whom he heard from his Dad's colleagues. The Lu Han who tamed his Dad's fist. "What is a home?"

A home is where Minseok is.